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Xonar Essence STX: Sneak Peek! - Page 36

post #526 of 2057
2/1/09 at 9:38pm
Thread Starter 
Sure, I have been trying out some commonly known/used audio opamps.

A. BB OPA2134
B. BB OPA2227
C. BB OPA2107

I have other but these are the ones I have been playing with and listening to right now.
I have also been talking with some experts and making a new list of units I personally want to test with this card.
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post #527 of 2057
2/1/09 at 10:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post
Sure, I have been trying out some commonly known/used audio opamps.

A. BB OPA2134
B. BB OPA2227
C. BB OPA2107

I have other but these are the ones I have been playing with and listening to right now.
I have also been talking with some experts and making a new list of units I personally want to test with this card.
Sweet! I've been eyeing all three of those. Looking forward to hearing your impressions!

Other ones I've read good things about in other applications are:

OPA2111
OPA2604
AD712
AD746
AD8599*
AD8022*

*These don't come in 8-DIP so an SOIC -> 8-DIP adapter is req'd.

I'll probably pick up a couple of these to try out. They're certainly cheap enough. All of them are <$10 except the 2111 which is ~$13.

I'm afraid my technical knowledge is rather limited, though. Does anyone know if I'd run into any issues using any of these?
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post #528 of 2057
2/1/09 at 11:41pm
i know the AD8610/AD8620BR are touted as being superior to the LM4562, i'm wondering if anyone can test them as well.
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post #529 of 2057
2/2/09 at 8:39am
IMO, all audio components related to each other, sometimes it's not exactly better OPs sounded better, cheaper stuff which co-works with other parts well can beat expensive stuff at times.
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post #530 of 2057
2/2/09 at 8:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post
The jacks on the back on the Essence STX are 1/4" yes, but they are not made for a guitar input. The Input on this card is Line-In and a Mic-in. I wouldn't connect a guitar to it. The card has not been made for that.
I use guitar Rig all the time but I don't use the STX for input...
Sorry for the delay in replying back, been away!

Thank you for the comments.

Would a guitar input be any different to that of a mic? I'm not really sure what difference it would make... could it damage it then?

What do you use to connect your guitar to your computer Robscix?

I really want better sound but the x-fi front panel is so convenient!
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post #531 of 2057
2/2/09 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stimpy_7 View Post
Sorry for the delay in replying back, been away!

Thank you for the comments.

Would a guitar input be any different to that of a mic? I'm not really sure what difference it would make... could it damage it then?

What do you use to connect your guitar to your computer Robscix?

I really want better sound but the x-fi front panel is so convenient!
You can also connect Essence STX to your mobo's front panel, and the output of a guitar is waaaaaay lower then normal line in (unless it's an acoustic with amp, or you use nasty EMG pickups). You can consider the output as low as a passive mic (no battery).

In this case you may want to select the input mode as mic, still, this baby is made for listening, just like Line6 is made for guitar recording, and X-Fi is made for...uh... can't think of.
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post #532 of 2057
2/2/09 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stimpy_7 View Post
Sorry for the delay in replying back, been away!

Thank you for the comments.

Would a guitar input be any different to that of a mic? I'm not really sure what difference it would make... could it damage it then?

What do you use to connect your guitar to your computer Robscix?

I really want better sound but the x-fi front panel is so convenient!
A guitar input on a device is high imedance and I doubt a Mic input would work properly and if anything, would not give you very good sound at all.
It would be best to get the right tool for the job. You can find guitar interfaces for USB very cheap.
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post #533 of 2057
2/2/09 at 12:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigTrouble View Post
IMO, all audio components related to each other, sometimes it's not exactly better OPs sounded better, cheaper stuff which co-works with other parts well can beat expensive stuff at times.
Yes, very true. I haven't been just plugging in any old opamps I have laying around. I have been reading over spec sheets and looking for improvements to the units used on the card. Your also right that many times a better spec'd opamp might sound worse and a lower spec opamp might have that sound your looking for. It really depends on many factors...
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post #534 of 2057
2/2/09 at 1:05pm
Which is why I'm awaiting the results of your testing with anticipation.

Btw Robscix, does changing the LM4562 opamp affect the SQ of the headphone out or only the RCA outs?
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post #535 of 2057
2/2/09 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bojamijams View Post
Which is why I'm awaiting the results of your testing with anticipation.

Btw Robscix, does changing the LM4562 opamp affect the SQ of the headphone out or only the RCA outs?
The way I understand it is the LM4562NA affect the RCA's only. When you switch to headphones the relays snap the LM4562 out of the circuit and put the headphone amplifier chip into the circuit. Changing the 2114D's affect both headphones and RCA's out.
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post #536 of 2057
2/2/09 at 3:14pm
So those would be the ones to also shoot for, especially since the HP amplifier isn't swappable
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post #537 of 2057
2/2/09 at 6:26pm
that's interesting ROBSCIX. i would really like for someone to try the Burson discrete opamps in place of the LM4562. that's the setup i'm planning to get.
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post #538 of 2057
2/2/09 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 
@Sharose
I don't have any discrete opamp units YET. Althoguh I have been considering getting them to test out.
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post #539 of 2057
2/2/09 at 7:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post
that's interesting ROBSCIX. i would really like for someone to try the Burson discrete opamps in place of the LM4562. that's the setup i'm planning to get.
Me too

Anyway, would there be any side effect in connecting a power amp directly to the RCAs of the essence?
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post #540 of 2057
2/2/09 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bojamijams View Post
So those would be the ones to also shoot for, especially since the HP amplifier isn't swappable
Yeah I'm definitely interested in seeing what replacing the 2114D opamps does.
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